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Today, bilingualism and language mastery are often seen as brain-sharpening benefits and experiences that change over time in response to individuals’ learning and social environments. At the same time, unfortunately, bilingual learners do not always receive empathetic, welcoming, and empowering educational experiences. Adriana Alvarez, PhD, assistant professor in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) in CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development, draws on personal experiences and research data to help future and current teachers understand the strengths and diverse needs of their language learners, to embrace bilingualism, and to enrich their understanding of bilingual development and learning.

Alvarez’s childhood experiences as a bilingual learner impact her passion for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education and her current research. As an 11-year-old child who immigrated from Mexico, she navigated a new school system, a new language, a new culture, and a new country. She experienced heartbreak when her native language and culture were devalued. And even though she was a dedicated student, a school counselor once told her that she should pursue vocational school instead of attending college, even though she was holding university brochures asking for help to apply. These negative experiences silenced her active participation in the classroom and school. Then she took a class in Chicano Studies as an undergraduate, and her perspective changed.

It took a long time before I reclaimed these aspects of my identity, like that pride in my language, that pride in my culture,” said Alvarez. “I have been able to unpack and understand some of those experiences, which led to my strong commitment and drive for making a difference for other bilingual students by shifting deficit perspectives. Students’ bilingualism should be valued and cherished.

After obtaining a university degree and teacher’s license, she became a bilingual teacher in the same school district where she was a student. Eventually, she began pursuing an MA as a National Professional Development (NPD) grant-funded student.

Recently, Alvarez’s life in academia seems to be coming full circle. Her faculty team, led by Drs. Ester De Jong and Lucinda Soltero-González, secured a $3.2 million NPD grant from the Office of English Language Acquisition titled Project NxtGEN Colorado Bilingüe. “It is the same type of grant that helped fund my graduate education,” said Alvarez. “And, now my students and future students will benefit through scholarship opportunities, clinical experiences in bilingual settings, academic pathways, and a community and network of colleagues in bilingual education. It is so exciting.”

Alvarez treasures working with bilingual students at CU Denver. She initiated and is a faculty mentor for CU Denver’s Bilingual Education Student Organization (BESO) which involves students in advocacy and professional development in bilingual education, including attending local and national conferences. Last year, members of the group traveled to New Orleans to attend the National Association for Bilingual Education conference, thanks to funding from the Office for Latinx Student Services. “To me, this is what it's about,” said Alvarez. “Our students bring a depth of life and work experiences. I enjoyed witnessing their excitement and seeing how their perspectives changed after the experience of traveling to a national conference and meeting other BESO students nationwide. I can see that spark for bilingual education ignite in them, and it makes it all worthwhile."

In her CU Denver classes, Alvarez is passionate about deepening students’ understandings of language and culture as strengths and shifting deficit perspectives. “Students and I take photos in each course wearing sunglasses, representing our commitment to seeing culturally and linguistically diverse students through a strength-based lens that sees languages and cultures as an asset to educational settings, classrooms and learning,” she said.

This fall, Alvarez is participating in two exciting initiatives.

CU Denver’s Culturally and Linguistically Diverse faculty team is organizing a national, interactive webinar on September 30, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. MST. It is open to all educators and is titled “Welcoming Newcomer Students in the Classroom: Practical tips for Prioritizing Community and Creating a Culture of Care.”

Learn more and register

 

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Dr. Alvarez is collaborating with the Museo de las Americas on their fall exhibition Migrants: A Tale of Two Hearts showing from October 10, 2024 - January 26, 2025. The project in the exhibit, titled “What Remains,” draws together artistic production and academic research to reframe the migrant experience as a global and timeless human experience, one that occurs before, during and after the passage itself. It is a tribute to those who have taken this journey but have been silenced, or whose voices were never heard.  A children’s book that was part of one of Alvarez’s research projects will be included in the exhibition.

 

Learn more at

 

“My goal is to create a culture of care and the best educational experiences for bilingual learners through preparing future generations of educators, meaningful work in the field of bilingual education and community engaged research,” said Alvarez.